Bristol 407 Viotti

This is a one-off: a right-hand-drive Bristol 407 sent to Viotti in Italy as a design exercise for Bristol Cars, and first shown at the 1962 Turin Motor Show. Bristol had no plans to build it until Peter Sellers persuaded Anthony Crook to turn the prototype into a finished car. It was first registered to Sellers in 1963, and his then wife Britt Ekland used it most.

Its later history is well documented. Anthony Crook Motors bought it back in 1971 and had Bristol at Filton bring it up to 410 specification. Carol Crook then used it daily between 1972 and 1981 on the AC 1 registration, and it was repainted in Ming Blue. In 1995 the body was remade by Coachbuilt Horsepower, making it the only Bristol with a full steel body apart from a batch of very early 400s.

The current owner bought it in 2006 and has carried out extensive restoration and upgrades. These include a four-speed gearbox, an electronic distributor, an aluminium radiator with a thermostatic fan, and a new Edelbrock 500 carburettor. The chrome and woodwork have been restored, and the car has a full respray, new carpets and a new mohair hood. Price is on application, and no mileage is given.